Rotary filling machine



Jan. 14, 1969 4 E, MlNARD ET l. 3,421,555

ROTARY FILLING MACHINE EVERETT S. MINARD 6 By ROBERT L. SMITH ATTORNEY Jan. 14, 1969 E, 5, M|NARD ET AL 3,421,555

ROTARY FILLING MACHINE INVENTORS EVERTT aS. MINARD ROBERT L. SMITH ATTURNEY Jan. 14, 1969 E, s, MlNARD ETAl y 3,421,555

ROTARY FILLING MACHINE .filed April 15, 195e sheet .5 of 4.

I"nuwe-Nro EVERETT S. MINA 8 ROBERT L. SMITH @Y ATTORNEY Jan. 14, 1969 5,5 WARD ET AL 3,421,555

ROTARY FILLING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1955 sheet 4 of 4 INVENToRs EVERETT S. MINARD 8 ROBERT L. SMITH BY A T TORNE Y United States Patent O 3,421,555 ROTARY FILLING MACHINE Everett S. Minard, Laguna Hills, Calif., and Robert L.

Smith, Louisville, Ky., assignors to Chemetron Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 542,776

U.S. Cl. 141--150 9 `Claims Int. Cl. 136511 43/50 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus having rotatably mounted lifter assemblies for supporting inclined receptacles being moved on a filling machine and for depositing filled receptacles on a table having an inclined surface which gradually returns the filled receptacles to an upright position.

This invention relates to a rotary filling machine for filling liquids into receptacles.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a rotary `filling machine by which receptacles can be filled at high speeds, in which compensation is made for centrifugal actio to prevent liquid from being driven over the open under end of the receptacles, in which the receptacles can be brought upwardly and inwardly into filling position relative to valve assemblies which extend in a downward and outward direction relative to the reservoir, and by which the filled receptacles are returned to vertical position without spilling of the contents, and such machine being relatively simple and economical to construct and operate.

An embodiment of the invention includes `a frame, a reservoir dis-posed above the frame, and a subframe disposed between the frame and the reservoir, spaced apart valve assemblies carried by the reservoir and disposed in an arcuate arrangement, the valve assemblies being inclined downwardly and outwardly, an upstanding shaft.

connected to said subframe and said reservoir, the distance between the subframe and reservoir being regulatable, stabilizers spaced from the shaft and securely interconnecting the subframe and the reservoir, spaced apart lifter assemblies mounted on the subframe, the lifter assemblies each having a lifter bar for supporting the receptacle at two spaced apart locations, an arcuate cam secured t the frame and operative when the shaft rotates to move said lifter assemblies sequentially upwardly and inwardly towardly away from the valve assemblies to move the receptacles sequentially into and out of filling position with respect to the valve assemblies, a guide engageable with the side of each successive receptacle `and extending from a first location where the receptacles are transferred onto the table to second location which is substantially horizontal, a table onto which filled receptacles can be sequentially transferred from said lifter assemblies, the

table extending into the path of movement of the lifter assemblies, the table having a cutout t0 permit the lifter assemblies to clear, and to descend below, the table, the table presenting an angle of inclination at the first location which is generally the same as the angle of inclination of the receptacle as it moves in its arcuate path.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a rotary filling machine in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the rotary filling machine shown in FIGURE 1, with the reservoir and its valve assemblies omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the lifter assemblies shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along line 4--4 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged elevational view showing 3,421,555 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 Fice stabilizer structure which enables adjustment and proper alignment of the valve and lifter assemblies;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional View taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 9 isa sectional view taken along line 9 9 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a rotary filling machine generally indicated at 10 for lling containers or receptacles R at high speed. The rotary filling machine 10 includes a frame 11 having ladjustable legs 11', a bowl or reservoir 12 adapted to contain liquid L, and a subframe 13. An upright shaft 14 is rotatably mounted in bearings 15 yand 16 in the frame 11. The lower end of the shaft 14 is secured to the bevel gear 17. A bevel gear 19 is secured to a drive shaft 1S. The drive shaft 18 is rotatable in the frame 11 and has bevel gears 19 and 20 secured to it. The bevel gear 19 meshes with the bevel gear 17 to rotate the shaft 14, and the bevel gear 20 meshes with the bevel gear 21 to rotate a shaft 22. The bearings 15 and 16 hold the shaft 14 in upstanding or vertical position and the subframe 13 rests against the bearing 16. The subframe 13 includes -a hub 23 suitably secured t0 the shaft 14. Support member 24 which is shown to be generally bell-shaped in construction is removably attached to hub 23.

The upper end of the shaft 14 has an externally threaded portion 25. The threaded portion 25 is received by a depending hub 26 of the reservoir 12. A nut 27 is threadably received by the threaded portion 25. A washer 28, having a low coetlicient of friction, is disposed between the lower end of the hub 26 and the nut 27 to reduce friction while the nut 27 is being turned. Sockets 29 formed by arms 30 can be used to rotate the nut 27 to raise or lower the reservoir 12 relative to the subframe 13 and the frame 11. The pitch of the threads at the threaded portion 25 is small enough to make the nut 27 self-locking.

It is seen that the subframe 13 extends outwardly from the shaft 14. At some distance from the shaft 14 there are shown stabilizers 31, one of which is shown in greater detail in FIGURES 5 and 6. The stabilizers 31, shown to be three in number, comprise `an upper section 32 and a cylindrical lower section 33 which is received by the upper section 32. The u-pper section 32. is secured to the fioor of the reservoir 12 by threaded fasteners 34. The upper section 32 has a pair of depending members 35 joined at their lower ends by an integrally formed clamp 36 which embraces the lower section 33. The clamp 36 can be clamped to the lower section 33 at any position along its length by tightening a threaded fastener 37 of the clamp 36. The lower section 33 is secured to the subframe 13 by threaded fasteners 38. It is thus seen that the reservoir 12 and the subframe 13 can be rigidly interconnected by the stabilizers 31 so that the reservoir 11 .and subframe 13 will rotate as a unit.

Valve mechanisms generally indicated at 39 are shown to be of the gravity type and are opened and closed when the open upper ends of the receptacles R exert a force against respective actuators 4t! as illustrated for example in United States Patent No. 2,896,676, in FIGURES 21 through 26, and described therein.

Lifter mechanisms generally indicated at 41 are mounted by the support member 24 of the subframe 13 for upward and inward movement toward and downward and outward movement away from the valve assemblies 39. One of the lifter assemblies 41 is shown in detail in FIGURES 3 and 4. As all the lifter assemblies 41 are identical only one is described in detail. Each lifter assembly 41 includes a bracket 42 threadably secured to the subframe support member 24 by a threaded fastener 43. Spaced apart guide rods 44 are suitably secured in a bore 45 in the bracket 42. Slidably mounted by guide rods 44 through spaced apart and aligned bores 47 and 48, is a lifter body or frame 46. The lifter body 46 has a lifter bar 49 secured to it by threaded fasteners 50. Container positioning arms 51 and 52 are provided to cradle the receptacles R. Rotatably secured to the body 46 by a pivot screw 53 is a roller S4. The roller 54 rides on an arcuate cam or track 55 which is suitably contoured to move the lifter assemblies 41 toward and away from the respective valve assemblies 39. When the guide rods 44 are so positioned that the lifter assemblies 41 move the receptacles R in axial alignment with the Valve assemblies 39, the receptacles R actuate the respective valve mechanisms 39 in a cycle well known in the art. A stop in the form of a screw 46 threaded into the frame 46 abuts the support member 24 to limit the downward movement of the lifter assembly 41 and thereby provide for proper positioning of lifter bars 49. A lock nut 46 can hold the screw 46 in any predetermined position. Spaced supports 56 mount the cam 55.

There is provided an infeed conveyor mechanism generally indicated at 60 which conveys empty receptacles R to filling position. The conveyor mechanism 60 includes a timing screw 60 having a shaft 62. The timing screw 60 rotates above a table 62 which supports the receptacles R. The shaft 62 has a sprocket 63 secured to one end. A shaft 64 having a sprocket 66 is rotatably mounted in the frame 11 and carries a bevel gear (not shown) which meshes with a bevel gear 66 secured to the shaft 22. Sprockets 63 and 65 are connected by a continuous chain 67. The timing screw 60 is rotated in synchronism with a starwheel 68 having recesses 68. As the receptacles R positioned on the lifter bars 49 travel in their arcuate path, the cam 55 causes the lifter mechanisms 41 to urge the receptacles sequentially against actuators 40 of valve assemblies 39. The lifter bars 49 extend tangentially to the arcuate path of movement of the receptacles R.

The lled receptacles R are gently transferred onto a table or platform generally indicated at 69 as the lifter bars 49 descend through the table at a slot 69. The table 69 includes a pair of plates 70 and 71. Phantom lines 70a and 71a in FIGURE 7 indicate that the upper surface of the plate 70 is slightly vertically above or offset from the upper surface of the plate 71. The plate 71 is sloped to provide gradual return of each receptacle R to horizontal position or zone Z shown in FIGURE 9 where the plates 70 and 71 become coplanar. The curved guide 72, mounted by means of screws 72 and spacers 72, engages the sides of the receptacles R as they are lowered onto the table 69 by the lifter assemblies 41. The plate 70 supports the receptacle R at its bottom at two spaced apart points 73 and 74, the plate 71 supports the receptacles R at one point 75 and the guide 72 supports the side of the receptacle R at a point 72a, as the receptacles cease to be supported by respective lifter bars 49. The receptacle R makes contact with plates 70 and 71 at points 73, 74 and 75 immediately prior to or substantially simultaneously with engagement of the receptacle R with the guide 72 at point 72a.

In operation, empty receptacles R are fed one-by-one by the timing screw 60 to the starwheel 68 which conveys the receptacles R one-by-one to the lifter assemblies 41. As best shown in FIGURE 1, the lifter bar 49 which receives an empty receptacle R from the starwheel 68 is slightly below the upper surface of the table 62' to insure that the lower edge of the receptacle R does not strike the side of the lifter bar 49. The subfrarne 13 and the lifter assemblies 41, the reservoir 12, and the filling assemblies 39 rotate as a unit. When the receptacles R are delivered to the lifter assemblies 41, the rollers 54 are in their lowermost positions because the screws 46 are resting 4 on support member 24. As the empty receptacles R travel in their arcuate paths as best illustrated in FIGURE 2, the lifter assemblies 41 are raised as the rollers 54 start to engage the rising portion lof the cam 55 as seen in FIGURE l. The upper surface of the cam 55 is so profiled that the receptacles R are urged upwardly sufficiently to urge the actuators 40 upwardly to cause the liquid L from the reservoir 12 to gravitate through the open valve assemblies 39 into the receptacles R. The filled receptacles R are sequentially slid onto the table 69 and are returned to the horizontal position at the zone generally indicated at Z where the path of movement ofthe receptacles R changes from curved to straight line and the lugs 61 of the conveyor mechanism 61 move the filled receptacles away from filling machine 10. The guide 72 straightens out starting from the zone Z.

Other embodiments and modifications of this invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and all such of these as come within the spirit of this invention are included within its scope as best defined by the appended claims wherein there is claimed:

1. A rotary filling machine, comprising: a frame, a reservoir rotatably mounted by said frame, spaced apart valve assemblies carried `by said reservoir and disposed in an arcuate arrangement, spaced apart lifter assemblies mounted for rotation by said frame in an arcuate path in synchronism with said valve assemblies, said lifter assemblies being movable upwardly and inwardly and downwardly and outwardly, cam menas mounted by said frame for sequentially actuating said lifter assemblies toward and away from respective valve assemblies, a table onto which filled receptacles can `be sequentially transferred from said lifter assemblies, said table extending into the path of movement of said lifter assemblies, said table having a cutout to permit said lifter assemblies to clear said table, said table including an inclined surface at a first location where the receptacles are transferred thereto approximately equal to the inclination at which the receptacles are carried by said lifter assemblies, said table having a second location disposed out of said path of movement of said lifter assemblies, said table including a substantially horizontal surface at said second location, and a guide engageable with the side of each successive receptacle and extending from said first location to said second location, said table and said guide being constructed to transfer the filled receptacles gradually from the inclined position at said first location to the substantially vertical position at said second location.

2. A rotary filling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lifter assembly includes a member against which a side of the inclined receptacle rests and a lifter bar against the bottom of the receptacle rests, said lifter bar extending in a generally tangential direction to the path of movement of the receptacles.

3. A rotary filling machine as claimed in claim 1, each lifter assembly having a lifter bar extending in a generally tangential direction to the path of movement of the receptacles.

4. A rotary filling machine as claimed in claim 1, said table having means for supporting each receptacle at three points at its bottom until the receptacle has reached said second location.

5. A rotary filling machine as claimed in claim 1, said table having plates extending between said first and second locations, the upper surface of said plates being Vertically offset at said first location and being coplanar at said second location.

6. A rotary filling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each valve assembly includes an actuator operated by a receptacle, said valve assemblies being axially aligned with receptacles in respective lifter assemblies.

7. A rotary filling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide is curved but straightens out at a zone where the table presents a horizontal surface.

8. A rotary filling machine comprising: a frame, a

5 reservoir, spaced apart valve assemblies carried by said reservoir and disposed in an arcuate arrangement, an upstandiug shaft rotatably mounted in said frame and connected to said reservoir, means for regulating the height of said reservoir on said shaft, a subframe positioned generally between said frame and said reservoir and connected to said shaft, means spaced from said shaft for interconnecting said reservoir and said subframe, spaced apart lifter assemblies mounted in an arcuate arrangement by said subframe, means mounted by said frame for sequentially camming said lifter assemblies upwardly toward and downwardly away from respective valve assemblies as said reservoir and subframe rotate as a unit, a table having an inclined slotted end opening into the rotational path of movement of said lifter assemblies, said table also having a at surface, said inclined end portion being gradually sloped toward the flat surface, and said lifter assemblies being movable through the slot to a position below the surface of the table by the camming means.

9. A rotary lling machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said valve assemblies have actuators mounted for upward and inward movement and downward and outward movement to open and close respective valve assemblies, and means for regulating the spacing between said reservoir and said subframe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 768,960 8/1904 Strasburger 141-150 3,105,526 10/1963 Hurtig 141-171 HOUSTON S. BELL, JR., Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 141-171, 172 

